The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1887-02-02
T H Z
WIDENING FORT STREET.

The necessity for city improvement is
ge lerally admitted. Everyone recog-
nizes the advantages of living in a we'll
built, well-paved and clearly town. 1t
attracts population and offers far better
security for investment than a town
built up at random, and kept in its prim-
tive condition through mistaken econ
omy and an Ignorant Impotence Of
taxation" The Legislature of the King
dom thoroughly understood this, and the
statutes provide machinery whereby
needed improvements may be carried
out without injuring any one. great
deal has been already accomplished in
this direction since the fire of April last,
much TO the advantage of property
owners and to the improved appearance
of the city. But in other sections of
Honolulu q more conservative spirit
prevails, and the work of improvement
progresses slowly.
The widening and grading OF Fort
street was looked upon as one OF the inn
provements certain to be carried out
during this season, but a recent decision
of the Supreme Court postpones it in
definitely There were fatal irregulari-
ties in the proceedings by which the
Commission undertook to settle the
amount of damages payable to property
owners, with the result that its finding
has been set aside. The appointment OF
the Commission to assess damages was
Il hnI /, OF
the case its faulty procedure would
have invalidated it's work. :" Ii property
could be taken under such procedure
as was used in this case, the Constitution
would be violated in one of it's essential
parts is the dictum of Mr.. Justice
Preston, who heard the appeal OF pro-
pertv owners, and sustained it. Doubt
less the decision is i'll strict conformity
with law, and we do not in any sense
quarrel with it.
A perusal of the decision of MIR. Justice
Preston on Mr. Bradiey's appeal leaves
no room TO doubt the fact that the Com I
mission appointed to assess damages in |
this case did not act liz conformity with |
.
question arises whether a technical de-
feet should be allowed to put stop to
much needed city improvements. This
is the point in which the public are in
terested, and it is in the public interest
that we venture to suggest an amicable
arrangement which would permit OF the
widening and grading of Fort street.
Taking the award of the Commission as
a basis of settlement, is it not possible
to arrive at a satisfactory compromise
between the Government and property
owners? We cannot conceive of any
possible objection to such a compromise;
and all parties in interest asserting,
there need not be much loss of time
about it. The Legislature has apprO-
priated a large sum for road damages"
and this Fort street work was included in
it. Should an arrangement OF the kind
s Iggested be postponed for any length OF
time, nothing can be more certain than
that there will be no money for it
during the last half of the biennial
period, because the demands on account
of improvements in the burned district
will assuredly absorb all that can be
made available for such purpose under
the congested Appropriation Act of
1886.
Our only object in presenting this view
o the case, howeves, is to serve the pub
lie. Property owners will protect them
selves, but they likewise owe something
20 the community at large which guar
lntees them quiet possession and en-
oyment of their estates. Now, the
main entrance to the city from the sea is
} Fort street; We might almost say it is
he only entrance at present. 1t is there
ore important that it should be widened
} admit of the growing traffic and en-
bile business to be carried on without
the people who frequent
+. This would improve the appearance
# the city while enhancing the value of
If, therefore, the owners OF
eIlty vino are affected by the contem-
lated improvement of Fort street would f
gree upon a common line OF action, l
Ieeting the Minister of the Interior in C
Lir and liberal spirit, we have little a
oubt the matter might be amicably ar [